Nests

My dog and I walked across the pasture, short grass underfoot. Nothing to be seen but grass, and weeds, and dirt.

As I strode along noise and feathers burst from the ground next to my foot. A grouse leapt from her nest. She flopped across the ground as the dog took chase.

Her broken wing impression so convincing that she had me convinced, even knowing better. I shrieked at the dog desperately trying to call a bird dog off of a bird flopping across the ground. Her nest now clearly visible at my feet I had visions of the dog catching her. Of orphaned eggs all because of me.

Luckily she is smarter then both me and the dog. She led the dog away from her nest keep neatly away from snapping teeth then flew off. She’ll be back as soon as the coast is clear. My dog confused and happy about the chase came back panting. We walked on.

A short ways later another bird flew up from my feet. A meadow lark this time. She made no attempt to draw predators away, she simply fled. It took some searching to find her nest, even though I saw her leave the exact spot. No wonder I’ve never seen a meadowlark nest before. She hid it well. Covered in grass carefully woven into a roof. The eggs could barely be seen unless you peeked in the door.

Crossing any grass this time of year scares me. From the bird nests hung between blades of grass to the ones carefully sat on the ground, I don’t want to step on or drive over any of them! But they sure are fun to find.